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(1921-92). Indian filmmaker Satyajit Ray’s influence on the movie industry was unparalleled in his native country. His Apu trilogy of films brought the world to India’s doorstep. Ray presented scenes of everyday life in India in more than 30 feature-length films. He also influenced a generation of filmmakers including Ismail Merchant and Mira Nair. A Renaissance man of film, Ray served as writer, producer, director, cameraman, composer, and even calligrapher of opening credits for many of his films. He was also renowned for using untrained actors and technicians in his films. The emotional intensity of these actors brought an immediacy to his films for audiences unfamiliar with the subject matter.